Complaints dismissed

Complaints about a Home Office responsible drinking ad have been dismissed by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Eight complaints were made about the TV ad - part of the government's Know Your Limits campaign - which showed a drunk teenager falling from scaffolding.

Some viewers said the ads were too graphic, and some reported that they had seen someone fall from a height and the ads were an upsetting reminder of the incident.

Others said they thought the ad was scheduled too early and their children were distressed by it. While the campaign is not permitted to be shown during ­children's programmes, the ad is being shown in afternoon and early evening slots.

The ASA acknowledged that some viewers had been distressed by the ad, but added: " We noted the ad's aim was to educate the public on the harm caused by excessive drinking.

"We considered that adult viewers were likely to understand the seriousness of the message the ad presented and recognise the need to raise awareness of binge drinking.

"We concluded that the ad was unlikely to cause serious distress to an adult ­audience, who were unlikely to find the graphic nature of the ad disproportionate to the seriousness of the message".

The ASA also ruled that the campaign had been aired at an appropriate time.

Site Search

Newsletter

COMMENT

The reasons Donald Trump should not be left in charge of a shopping trolley, let alone the keys to the White House, are plentiful and well-documented – from his use of the word “bigly” and lamentable business legacy to his dubious post-modern feminist principles, quite astonishing lack of political acumen and, most worrying of all, his bewildering hair.